An electrical method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac cells causing contraction to force hemodynamic output during fibrillation, hemodynamically compromising tachycardia, or asystole. High level electrical fields are applied to the heart to give cardiac output on an emergency basis until the arrhythmia ceases or other intervention takes place. The device is used as a stand alone external or internal device, or as a backup to an ICD, atrial defibrillator, or an anti-tachycardia pacemaker. The method and apparatus maintain some cardiac output and not necessarily defibrillation.

Claims

15 · 2 independent · depth 2

15 granted claims

›1.independentA method for electrically forcing cardiac output during tachyarrhythmia in a patient, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of electrodes…+6

›8.independentA device, for implantation in the human body, for maintaining cardiac output of a patient's heart during tachyarrhythmia using electrical forcing fiel…+7

›9.↳ 8The device of claim 8, in which said electrical current pulses are delivered at a rate between 60 and 200 beats per minute.d2

›10.↳ 8The device of claim 8, further comprising blood pressure monitoring means connected to said arrhythmia detection means.d2

›11.↳ 8The device of claim 8, in which said blood pressure monitoring means monitors cardiac output and further comprising the step of adjusting said electri…d2

›12.↳ 8The device of claim 8, wherein each electrical current pulse has rounded edges, thereby minimizing patient discomfort and chest twitching.d2

›13.↳ 8The device of claim 8 further comprising the step of forming each electrical current pulse of a train of at least 10 narrow pulses, thereby minimizing…d2

›14.↳ 8The device of claim 8 in which said arrhythmia detection means reassesses the presence of arrhythmia at predetermined intervals and said electrical cu…d2

›15.↳ 8The device of claim 8, wherein said output control means delivers said electrical current pulses for at least one hour to maintain cardiac output.d2

Classifications

1 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

607/5

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1.2 y

431 days filing → grant

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William E. Kamm

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